Btjrt ramsay



(No Model.) B RAMSAY PENCIL $HARPBNER.

No. 530,454. Patented Dec. 4,1894.

WITNESSES; 6

ATTORNEY.

f U ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BURT RAMSAY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

PENClL-SH ARPENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 530,454, dated December 4,1894. Application filed February 17,1894. $erial No. 500,583- (No model.)

ments in pencil Sharpeners.

This invention relates to certain improve- The object of the invention isto provide an improved pencil sharpener wherein the cutting edges or blades are so arranged as to have a drawing out on the pencil wood or sheath whereby the pencil can be easily and quickly sharpened Without tearing the wood or breaking the point and wherein means are provided to sharpen the lead independently of the wood cutting means.

Afurther object of the invention is to provide animproved pencil sharpener so constructed, that it can be produced at a minimum cost, and will be exceedingly effective in action, and durable in construction and composed of a minimum number of parts.

Afurther object of the invention is to provide an improved pencil sharpener exceedingly cheap, simple and durable in construction, and wherein the parts composing the sharpener can be struck out of sheet metal and are so secured together as to be separable for the purpose of sharpening the cutting edges.

The invention consists in certain novel features of construction and in combinations of parts more fully and particularly described hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings Figure 1, shows a pencil sharpener in perspective with a pencil therein. enlarged plan view with the members of the sharpener separated. Fig. 3, is an enlarged side or edge elevation of the sharpener.

The sharpener of the present application is composed of two substantially similar later- Fig. 2, is an ally movable or separable sections or members. Each member is usually stamped out of suitable sheet metaland is suitably bent to the form desired and one longitudinal edge thereof beveled to a cutting or. knife edge.

These two members are preferably pivoted together so as to be laterally separable.

a and b, indicate the two members or halves of the sharpener which when placed together and-properly secured constitute the complete article.

Each member is preferably-formed integral so that the entire sharpener is composed of but two pieces exclusive of any pivot {that may be employed to unite them. Each memberis longitudinally, approximately, in the formof a tapered ortriangular shape piece of sheetmetal and concavo-convex in cross section and twisted spirally so that the longitudinal edges thereof will be arranged spirally around the pencil point. One of its longitudinal edges is beveled on the outer side to form the cutting edge. At one side of its large endeach memberis providedwith the lateral lug g, preferably formed flat and these lugs of the two members can be united by a transverse pivot, such as d, whereby the two members of the sharpener are loosely joined together so as to swing laterally to and from each other on the said pivot which is transverse to the length of the members.

However I do not wish to limit myself to any specific fastening means for loosely uniting the memlfers of the fastener.

From the opposite edge of its large end, one member is provided with thestraight or flat projection or lug f, while the other member, usually a, is provided with the corresponding projection 6, having a groovedor jdoubled lip to embrace the projection f, when the sections or members are swung together. The opposite or small pointed end of each member is provided with the 'flat plate It, or lateral wings projecting on both sides of said end of the members and greatly strengthening the same as is clearly'evident as shown. 5

Each of said plates or wings at one edge is provided with the doubled lip or overhanging edge is, arranged to embrace the flat end of the opposite wing or plate of the other member of the sharpener. Thus it will be IOO evident that the members of the fastener can be swung laterally so as to separate and assume the positions shown in Fig. 2, in which the outer side of the large and inner surface of the small end of the member 12, is shown and the inner surface of the large and outer surface of the small end of the member b, is shown.

To form the complete sharpener and arrange these member in operative position, the members a, is swung to the left in the direction of the arrow, and the large end thereof passes under the large end of member 19, and forms the complete circle and the small end passes over the small end of the member I), to complete the point and form the complete cone shaped article. The lip e, passes over the lug or projection f, and locks the large end against separation and the plate 71, of the member a, passes over the plate h, of member 1), and the doubled lips of the two plates interlock or embrace the 0pposite ends of the plates and thereby lock the point of the article against direct separation so that the complete locked cone is formed.

It will be observed that each member has one sharp edge spirally arranged around the cone that the complete sharpener has two cutting edges arranged on opposite sides thereof and that the edges are so arranged that a space will be left the blunt edge of one member and the sharp edge on the opposite member for the discharge of the shavings and dust, &c.

The sharpener is provided with independent means to sharpen the lead or graphite of the pencil. This is accomplished preferably ,by forming a file or like rubbing or abrading surface on the interior of the small end of each member. This file j, of each member is, preferably, formed on the inner surface on the small end of the concaved portion of the member by means of a die after which the surface of the metal is hardened, the same process being employed as usually followed in making ordinary files.

Thus it will be seen that when a'pencil is inserted in the sharpener and the sharpener properly turned the spiral cutting edges will move around on the sheath of the pencil at an angle to the grain of the wood and will have a draw cut which will neatly, quickly and easily trim the wood in a manner easily understood and appreciated and as the wood is cut away the graphite will come into engagement with the file surface and will be neatly and accurately sharpened to the point desired without danger of breakage, as is the case where knife edges, usually straight, are employed to cut away the lead or graphite proper.

If desired each plate or handle or wing h,

'can have a slit or cut opposite the cutting edge of the member to permit the dust and dirt to discharge from the pointed or small end of the cone.

It will be observed that the cutting edges of the members can be easily and conveniently sharpened by opening the sharpener by separation of the members and then applying the edges to a sharpening tool.

It will also be observed that the plates or wings h, in the complete article form a handle whereby the device can be conveniently turned and manipulated to perform the functions intended.

By reason of the peculiar construction employed the article can be made easily, quickly and exceedingly durable at a minimum cost and in a very short space of time without proper tools or formers.

Having thus fullydescribed my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. The pencil sharpener, approximately cone-shaped, and composed of the two longitudinal members twisted to form the longitudinal spiral edges, said members having the file surfaces at the inner faces of their small ends, the lateral lugs at their large ends pivoted together, and lateral interlocking projections from the edges of the members, substantially as described. 1

2. The approximately cone-shaped pencil sharpener composed entirely of two longitudinal sections each integral and twisted so that the two longitudinal edges thereof are spiral, said members at or near one end having lateral projections pivoted together, and at the opposite end having projections arranged to interlock when the members are swung one over the other, substantially as'described.

3. A pencil sharpener, approximately coneshaped, and comprising the two longitudinal members having longitudinal cutting edges, said members pivoted together at or near one end, and at the opposite ends having the fiat projections from their edges formed with turned edges or sockets arranged to interlock and hold the members against separation, substantially as described.

4. A pencil sharpener approximately coneshaped and comprising the two longitudinal members loosely joined to separate laterally, the small. ends of said members having the lateral plates forming a handle for turning the device and formed to interlock and hold the members together, substantially as described.

5. A pencil sharpener formed of two longitudinal members, at one edge of one-end of the sharpener said members having lateral projections pivoted together, the opposite edges having interlocking edges, the opposite end of the sharpener having interlocking plates, substantially as described.

6. The cone-shaped sharpener composed entirely of two approximately similar longitudinal members, each member formed integral of sheet metal and twisted to form its my own I affix my signature in presence of two longitudinal edges spiral, one of said edges witnesses. forming a cutting edge, said members pivoted together at their edges on one side, and prov BURT RAMSAY' 5 vided with interlocking edges to hold the Witnesses:

members against separation. O. E. DUFFY,

Intestimony that I claim the foregoing as C. M. WERLE. 

